I've hardly had time since the election to think about the traditional winners and losers column. But here's a quick list of my ideas. Add your own.

WINNERS

Kevin Looper: The veteran political operative runs Our Oregon, the non-profit set up by the unions and other progressive groups to be ready to quickly jump into ballot measure campaigns. Looper told Democratic legislators that a tax package targeted at the well-to-do and corporations would play well politically, and he proved it by running the successful campaign in favor of the two tax measures.

The public employee unions: The Oregon Education Association, Service Employees International Union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the American Federation of Teachers were the big four that bankrolled the vast bulk of the $6.8 million of the "yes" campaign. They can now argue that voters not only rejected cuts to services, they rejected criticism that public employees have too good of a deal. The unions bet big and they won big.

Dave Hunt: No legislator was as invested in the tax package as the Democratic House speaker, who had to muscle two Republican votes for the measures and essentially presented the Senate with a take-it-or-leave-it vote on the tax bills. Hunt, of Gladstone, may have trouble reclaiming his label as a business-friendly Democrat, but he made lots of friends in the Democratic base through this campaign.

Jim Carlson: The executive director and longtime lobbyist for the nursing-home and assisted-care industry, Carlson came out of Republican politics. But as the most prominent business member of the "yes" campaign - his group, the Oregon Health Care Association gave $155,000 to the effort - he had a key seat at the table. He won't have any trouble getting his calls returned from majority Democrats.

LOSERS

The Oregon business lobby: They ponied up more than $4.5 million for the opposition campaign, which is a heck of a lot more than business in Oregon has ever given for a measure that didn't directly affect the health of a specific industry. But they were divided during the session when the Oregon Business Association tried to strike its own deal with Hunt and other legislative leaders and Associated Oregon Industries never got to first base with its proposal.

Now much of the business community has emptied out its political funds while each of the business groups has to figure out their route back to relevance.

Mark Nelson: The Salem consultant and lobbyist has a long record of running successful ballot measure campaigns for business interests. But he had a hard time figuring out how to run a campaign where he was the financial underdog. One question being asked: Should he have hoarded his money for a late media blitz? Nelson lost at least two of his longtime clients, the Circuit court judges and the Association of Oregon Faculties, because of the campaign. On the other hand, his business racked up plenty of billings.

Phil Knight: It was rare to see Nike's chairman so invested in an Oregon political campaign. He gave $150,000 to the opposition campaign and authored a well-read op-ed opposing it. Given all that Knight has done for the state, it's painful to hear people asking him if he is going to leave the state and it has to be painful for him to be in such conversations.

TO BE DETERMINED

Bruce Hanna and Ted Ferrioli: The House and Senate Republican leaders kept their standing with the Republican base by arguing vigorously against the tax measures. But can they convert the anger of the losers into some legislative pickups in 2010? They're going to need money (if there's any left after this ballot fight) and energized candidates.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski: The governor signed the tax measures into law but pretty much stayed aloof from both their drafting and the campaign (and he was skeptical about whether they would pass). Now, in his last year, he's moving back to center stage by trying to persuade legislators to tackle the tax "kicker" rebates. That's not be an easy sell with lawmakers who would rather avoid further tax fights for a while.